Post-Destroy Fanfiction ending. Will follow Commander Thomas Shepard, Admiral Hackett, and two original characters. Will focus on rebuilding galactic society after the Reaper War. Will be uploading new chapters soon

This is my alternate fiction, and really my canon. Commander Thomas Shepard (yes the same name). Post destroy ending, this story follows Shepard's decision in the chamber and its immediate and long term consequences. Will specifically follow Shepard and two new original characters, a newly promoted Admiral in the Alliance navy, and his second in command, a master tactician and strategist.(will give their backstory in a chapter)

Commander Shepard felt the roar and pain of what seemed like thousands of knives piercing his brain. It was the echo of Harbinger's indoctrination attempt on Shepard's mind. He could hear the voice, that terrible voice still in his head. "Cease your struggle Shepard, succumb and it will be over". Shepard continued his march towards the tubes that prevented the Crucible from firing. He raised his gun and squeezed the trigger.

He thought of his friends. He thought of Joker, EDI, Garrus, Javik, Wrex. He remembered the fallen. Mordin sacrificing himself to save the Krogan, Thane who died a hero to save Councilor Valern, Ashley left behind on Virmire while Shepard secured the bomb site, Legion dying to save his people, The Illusive Man, so desperate to help humanity that he lost himself in the process. Anderson, the stalwart guardian of humanity. He thought of Miranda. Her confidence, her skills, her beauty. The feel of her skin, the smell of her hair, and the warmth of her smile kept him going. They all kept him going.

He pulled the trigger again. Each round caused a new shriek in his mind. "You will submit to us. Your defiance is at an end! You are nothing to us. We will continue, you will fail. Surrender. NOW!". The voice became more and more hostile as each bullet squeezed out. Shepard could sense the desperation in Harbinger's voice, and he knew it was almost over. "CEASE THIS FUTILE STRUGGLE! WE WILL EMERGE VICTORIOUS, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO". He continued down the path before him and pulled off several more shots. He could see the cracks in the tube and the bullet holes 'Almost there' he said partly to himself, partly to the voice that listened to his every thought.

"SHEPARD WE OFFER YOU DOMINATION AND YOU THROW IT AWAY, WE OFFER PEACE AND YOU REFUSE. WE WILL STOP YOU"

Shepard heard the thunderous chorus that the voices echoed inside his own mind. He looked back and saw the Catalyst standing there, furious, bubbling with rage. His eyes revealed his true nature. They glowed pale yellow staring at him like miniature suns. The apparition then disappeared. Shepard turned around and saw red lightning, similar to Sovereign's control over Saren, stretch out from the cracks and arc over the Citadel. Shepard raised his gun again and kept pulling the trigger. His barrage opened the tube further, and more red light shone forth in a spectacle unlike anything he had ever seen. Magnificent arches of lightning stretched out in every direction, burning the air and melting the metal it touched.

An explosion threw Shepard back and the maddening voice of Harbinger ended abruptly. Shepard looked up and saw the Catalyst hovering above him. He was different though. His shape was more ethereal, no real structure, the only things that Shepard could make out were his still glowing eyes. But now there were six yellow suns that glared at him.

"FOOL, YOU HAVE DOOMED YOUR SELF AND ALL YOU KNOW TO EXTINCTION. YOUR SPECIES WILL BE ELIM-"

"Shut up. I've shown you what organics can do. We have shown you what we are capable of"

"YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL CREATE SYNTHETICS AND WITHOUT US TO SAVE YOU,ALL THAT YOU WERE WILL BE LOST"

"BULLSHIT! You have no idea what will happen! You have killed trillions of people, now it's your turn. Organics will evolve and we will overcome any challenge. We don't need your help, we don't want it. You are finished". The last words came out as a whisper.

The "Catalyst" searched for the right words but could not find them. Shepard glared at the mass before him and wore a smirk born of satisfaction. "It's over". He then turned and made his way to the lift. Behind him the Citadel was pulsing with the red lightning. The Crucible started to glow red and out of the corner of his eye Shepard saw allied ships jump to FTL to escape. The glowing red pulse started to form a sphere that emanated from the Crucible and slowly started expanding.

Harbinger finally found his voice. "Shepard, when all you know is ashes, know that WE would have saved you from the fires of war. When the created overthrow their creators, know that it will be your fault. We were the harbingers of humanity's perfection and salvation, but you have thrown it away. And your children will curse the day that you doomed them to war and death unending."

As the lift carried Shepard back down, the crimson envelopment reached the Catalyst. His immense form faded as it was engulfed by the sphere. Red lightning arced across his body. His shrieks of death shook the very foundations of the Citadel, tearing apart sections of the station. Shepard saw the last bit of him vanish in a brilliant show of golden light. His eyes shattered into millions of specs of light that were doused by the tide that covered them.